[Satellite TODAY 04-15-10] Lockheed Martin has completed all factory testing of the first satellite in the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) program and is ready to deliver the spacecraft to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., where it will be prepared for a mid-2010 liftoff aboard an Atlas 5 launch vehicle, the company announced April 14.
    Lockheed Martin is currently under contract with the Air Force to provide three AEHF satellites and the mission control segment. The AEHF system is the successor to the five-satellite Milstar constellation and aims to provide improved communications for U.S. warfighters. Lockheed Martin is the AEHF prime contractor and system manager, with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, acting as the payload provider.
    The second AEHF spacecraft, SV-2, is in final performance testing. The third AEHF satellite, SV-3, is preparing for acoustic testing, one of several critical environmental tests that validate the overall satellite design and survivability during space vehicle launching and on-orbit operations. SV-2 and SV-3 are on track for launch readiness in 2011.
    Lockheed Martin said the program has begun advanced procurement of long-lead components for a fourth AEHF satellite.

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